Saxby's Coffee, due to open Nov. 9 at 3 West Morton St., got permission Oct. 21 from the Historic Conservation District to place signs to advertise the new business.

Saxby's Operations Manager Spencer Curtis attended the hearing.The Historic Commission, which approves or disapproves of signs, paint schemes and many other possible changes or additions to buildings in the Southside of Bethlehem, approved Saxby's modest sign. It will be made of sand-blasted redwood, and then painted.

The CVS Pharmacy at 305 West Fourth St. got the go-ahead to add historical photographs to existing outside decorative panels. Though the board voted for the decorative photographs, several members expressed concern about the additional graphics that the pharmacy management wants to add to black and white photographs.

The board's approval didn't come without some soul-searching by members."It's a great improvement on what's there now," said member Beth Starbuck. "I'm wrestling with it," said another member.

The Achievement House Cyber Charter School at 826 East Fourth St. will now be able to put up a sign provided it covers but does not destroy the Christian cross above the door to the former Hispanic Baptist Church. Director Isela Rodriquez assured the board members that the cross would remain intact.

The sign has a phrase, "Public Education is Free," which drew the attention of board member Mary Pongracz, who noted that "public education is, by definition, free" and therefore the sign is redundant. She recommended that the school change the wording.However, other members didn't want to be in the grammar police business. "I disagree," said member Gary Lader. "It's not our job to dictate the wording of a sign."

The owners of the building at 414 East Fourth St. got the commission's recommendation for approval to replace plate glass and a brick column because the building had been hit by a car which damaged the unoccupied store front.

Jason Brody got the Commission's OK to add a sign in the window of his electronics shop, "Top Rated 2," and his cell phone repair shop, "Mobile Genius" at 416 East 4th Street.

The commissioners reminded Brody that the total signage in a window can only cover up 40 percent of the window's area.

All approvals will now go before the Bethlehem City Council, which usually issues Certificates of Approval for recommended changes to buildings in the Southside. The certificates required before property owners can modify their buildings.

According to the City of Bethlehem's website, the Historic Commission is a separate historic review board that reviews modifications to the exterior of buildings in both the South Bethlehem Historic Conservation District and the Mount Airy Neighborhood District on the West Side.

The commission meets on the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Risbon Room of the Banana Factory.